Physics 110: Assignment 6

Due Wednesday, October 30.

  1. Suppose an Earth-sized planet existed somewhere near the orbit of Jupiter. How would you expect its atmosphere to differ from Earth's? How would you expect it to differ from Jupiter's? Would it contain nitrogen? Oxygen?

  2. The space shuttle orbits well inside the Earth's Roche limit. Why is it not torn apart? If an astronaut left a wrench lying on top of the shuttle while on a space walk, what would happen to the wrench?

  3. According to Kepler's laws, what should happen to one of the "spokes" in Saturn's rings? About how fast should it happen?

Published by NDSU Department of Physics
Douglas A. Kurtze
E-mail: kurtze@plains.nodak.edu
Phone: (701) 231-7048
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